Simplified rolling bolster system for press

Abstract

A rolling bolster system for a press in which the press has a press frame with a bed. The press frame is provided with at least one side opening for access to the press bed. Tracks in the form of grooves are formed in the top of the press bed and further tracks are provided externally of the press bed aligned with the tracks on the bed. The tracks engage support rollers provided on a bolster which can be rolled on the tracks into working position in the press frame and rolled out of the press frame for access to die members mounted on the bolster. When the bolster is rolled into the press frame, track sections provided in the tracks formed in the press bed are lowered, thereby setting the bolster down directly on the press bed and in which position the bolster can be fixedly secured to the press bed. The vertically movable sections of the track formed in the press bed are adjustable between upper positions of alignment with the tracks and lower positions in which the bolster is set down on the press bed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a press having a press frame with a horizontal bed and a side opening providing access to said bed; first track means extending across the bed from the said opening, second track means outside the frame forming a continuation of the first track means, said track means adapted to engage rollers carried by a bolster for rollingly supporting the bolster during movement thereof through the frame opening into and out of working position on the press bed, said first track means including vertically movable track sections over which the rollers rest when the bolster is in working position, said bed includes vertical holes therein intersecting said first track means, a vertical sleeve fixed in each respective hole, said track sections comprising a push rod vertically movable in each sleeve, cylinder means connected to one end of said sleeve including a ram for moving said sections to a predetermined upper position of alignment with said track means, and abutment means including a stationary member attached to the bed and cooperating with an abutment member carried by the push rod to limit the upward travel of said push rod to establish said predetermined upper position. 
     
     
       2. A press according to claim 1 in which the upper end of each sleeve includes a member having a groove extending thereacross and coplanar with the respective first track means in the bed, each push rod being nonrotatable in the respective sleeve and also having a groove extending thereacross which is coplanar with the respective first track means in the bed in the upper position of said push rod. 
     
     
       3. A press according to claim 1 in which each hole is counterbored, each sleeve having a flange at the upper end in the respective counterbore, and a nut threaded on the lower end of each sleeve beneath the bed. 
     
     
       4. A press according to claim 1 in which each hole is counterbored from the top, each sleeve having a flange at the upper end in the respective counterbore, a cap on the upper end of each sleeve having a recess formed into the bottom and at the top being substantially flush with the top of said bed, said push rod having a flange portion in said recess and a rectangular portion upstanding from the flange portion, said cap having a rectangular hole to receive said rectangular portion, said cap having a groove thereacross which aligns with the respective first track means in the bed and is coplanar therewith, said rectangular portion also having a groove thereacross which is in coplanar registration with the groove in the cap when the rectangular portion is in the position in which said flange portion abuts the bottom of the recess in the respective cap. 
     
     
       5. A press according to claim 4 in which the first track means in the bed on one side and in the grooves in the caps and in said rectangular portions on that same side are all the same width.